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Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly general terms, there are three general plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!

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